I Got the News Today: 04/09/2007 edition

Crossposted at diatribune

Yesterday, the Department of Defense announced the names of three Soldiers killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  According to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count the number of names released by the DoD is now 3267 and there are 15 more names of the deceased awaiting notification of the next of kin before being publicly released.  

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Jay S. Cajimat, 20, of Lahaina, Hawaii, died April 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his unit. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

Sgt. Forrest D. Cauthorn, 22, of Midlothian, Va., died April 5 in Hawijah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came into contact with enemy forces using small arms and grenades during combat operations.

His death is under investigation.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Two Hawaii Soldiers Killed in Iraq.

From the Honolulu Observer:

The war in Iraq has claimed the lives of two more Hawai'i soldiers.

Pfc. Jay S. Cajimat, 20, from Lahaina, and Forrest D. Cauthorn, a 22-year-old sergeant from Virginia who was stationed at Schofield Barracks, were killed in Iraq last week, the Army announced yesterday.

Cajimat is being remembered for his quiet and soft manner.  He was well loved by friends and family.

Lilibeth Cajimat said her son did not have a steady girlfriend. "When I asked him, he always said, 'Not yet, Mom,' " she said.

In one of his own online postings, Cajimat said, "I like to do anything that gets my mind off of what I do for a living. I like to joke around, sometimes too much, (I'm) really easy to get along with most of the time."

In a mid-March posting, Cajimat said, "I've changed and people say that change sometimes is a good thing. For me though, it's not something I want. ... I just need some time to think this through."

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Jason A. Shaffer, 28, of Derry, Pa., died April 5 in Baqubah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when a vehicle-born improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Shaffer was assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

The Pittsburgh Tribune spoke with Sgt. Jason Shaffer's father, he described his son as someone who worked hard and loved his job.

"My son was a go-getter," he said. "When he was growing up, I taught him to be a leader. I'm a carpenter, so since he was 5, I gave him tools. It was something he liked to do."

Jason Shaffer served his first tour in 2004 and was sent back to Iraq in October. He had been notified his unit would serve a third tour in 2009, his father said.

Scouting is dangerous work; his son was often in life-threatening situations, but was proud that during his first tour his squad had only one casualty, Roger Shaffer said.

"He brought all his people home. Their parents appreciated that," his father said.

Sgt. Jason Shaffer leaves behind a wife and a two year old son.  He recently spoke to his wife and told her:

He said Shaffer was due to come home on leave April 28 and planned to spend time with his wife, the former Kathleen Connor, a fellow student at Derry. She now lives in Oregon with her 2-year-old son.

"She told me he had called a few days ago. She said he was actually in good spirits. They were talking about having a baby," Kunkle said. "He was a wonderful person. He deserved better. It's a tragedy. He was only 28."

It is a tragedy.  Rest in Peace, Sgt. Shaffer.  

All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here.  They all had loved ones, families and friends.  The DoD news releases are here.

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